This gene is a member of the SUMO gene family. This family of genes encode small ubiquitin-related modifiers that are attached to proteins and control the target proteins' subcellular localization stability or activity. The protein described in this record is located in the cytoplasm and specifically modifies IKBA leading to negative regulation of NF-kappa-B-dependent transcription of the IL12B gene. A specific polymorphism in this SUMO gene which leads to the M55V substitution has been associated with type I diabetes. The RefSeq contains this polymorphism. [provided by RefSeq Jul 2008]